Sectional cabinet for electrical apparatus



' h 1927. L 047 Marc 8 H. 1... VAN VALKENBURG SECTIONAL CABINET FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5 1

1927 1.620,047 March H. 1.. VAN VALKENBURG SECTIONAL CABINET FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1921 Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

JITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMON L. VAN VALKENBURG, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 INDUS- TRIAL CONTROLLER COMPANY, OF MILW'AUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 025 WISCONSIN.

SECTIONAL CABINET FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

Application filed September 3, 1921. Serial No. 498,341.

My invention relates to cabinets for electrical apparatus, especially hand compensators, and for the sake of explanation I have chosen to illustrate the invention in connection with such a compensator. The underlying object of the invention is to sysematize and improve upon the general con- .JtlllCtlOIl of this type of apparatus as will be best understood from a recital of some of the advantages arising from my new construction. The cabinet consists of three principal parts, viz the main section, the front cover therefor, and the back section, which latter supports the entire structure and forms a closure for the main section. The back section remains fixed in place and is provided with terminals that are permanently connected to the external conductor. The main section contains the main operating parts of the apparatus including lugs which are readily attachable to and detach-- able from the terminals on the back section. The main section is readily attachable to and detachable from the back section with i the result that there is produced a single piece of apparatus, one part of which remains in place and is furnished with only a few parts which rarely if ever get out of order. The other part or main section contains the more delicate parts of the apparatus andthose which would be more diifioult to repair in case they should get out of order. As a result of my invention the main sections (including their contents) are interchangeable, and if a breakdown occurs all that is necessary is to detach-the main section or unit as a whole and replace it with one that is in good order. In other words, if a breakdown occurs it may be remedied almost instantly by removing the damaged unit and putting a fresh one in place. This not only makes it possible to keep the motor in commission, but makes it possible to make the repairs at leisure, sending the damaged unit back to the factory if necessary. The operating parts and their container form a removable unit, and in addition to the advantage just indicated it becomes possible to employ units of different sizes and current carrying capacities to operate with a back of standard type. No additional expense is incurred in so constructing the back'that it will cooperate .a one man with several capacities of main units and hence the manufacturer and jobber need make and keep on hand but one type of back for main units of different capacities, and the user in case he increases or decreases the size of motor in service, can utilize the old back and need purchase only a new main unit. The back becomes universal, so to speak, while the main unit may be made in various sizes. Another advantage of my piece of apparatus is that it may be installed and manipulated by a single operator. Apparatus of this class is usually too heavy to be held by the'same man who fastens it in place. As a result of my constructionit becomes possible for an electrician first to install the back (which is of light Weight) and then lift and secure the main unit without assistance. It thus constitutes piece of apparatus, although it is as substantial and heavy as apparatus which usually requires two men to install. Another important advantage of my cabinet is the great accessibility which it affords to the apparatus mounted within it. In a hand compensator, for example, the operating mechanism includes many parts, some of which may need'inspection and repairs. As a result of my invention when the main unit or section is taken down the entire back l is open, thus making it readily possible to make renewals or repairs, and at the front the hinged cover afi'ords accessibility to the forward parts of the apparatus. Thus such renewals or repairs can be made almost as readily as if the electrical elements were entirely removed 'from the cabinet.

The foregoing advantages are obtained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the main sectionor unit. 1

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the back section viewed from the front. These two views taken together illustrate the cooperative relationship of the two parts.

FigureS is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus in acting position, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating {)heiiact of attaching the main'section to the ac Like numerals denote like out the several views.

parts through- V In the type of apparatus selected to illustrate the invention the main section 1 is in the form of a sheet metal box open at the back and having a slanting cover 2 at the top of the front portion. his cover is connect ed to the top of the main section by hinges a so it may be raised to afford convenient access to the parts within. The'main section contains the coacting elements which control the motor. Tn the present instance these parts constitute a hand operated compensator forming-the subject matter of my patents, viz: for compensator, No. 1,420,789; system of; motor control, No. 1,391,808, and switch mounting, No. 1,391,809. As the contents of the main section'may be greatly varied, it will be suficient for the present purpose to indicate the contained parts gen erally by the reference letter E. The movement of the coacting elements is efiected through a handle 6 after the manner usual in externally-operated, enclosed switches.

The current-carrying parts within the cas ing are provided with apertured lugs 8 which form the terminals of this portion.

' of the apparatus.

The parts thus far described are assembled at the factory, and in a sense constitute a unit, although not completely operative the side, to

which I will now form a complete boxwhich houses the internal cooperating parts of the apparatus. Near the upper end of the back is mounted a slab 13 of slate or other insulating material carrying studs 14 adapted to -penetrate the gertures of'the lugs 8 in the main section. ectricrconnection between the studs and I the lugs is madeby "simply slipping'the lugs over .'the studs and securing them by nuts 16 in the usual way. The lugs 8 make surface contact withsimilar lugs 17 which encircle the studs and are electrically connected to the Conductors 18, which connect with the source of supply and with the motor.\ In practice ,these conductors usually are con? tained in conduits 20, one end of which is fastened to the top of the back sections Such lugs as 8 and'17 are well known in the art and are here shown in conventional design, although it will be understood that other --types may be substituted with like effect.

These lugs and their mountings constitute cooperating terminals, and it is pro er to say that the lugs in the back form stat onary v insect? terminals while those in the'main section are readily from theml Suitable means are provided for fastening the back section to a wall or other support. In the present case I have illustrated rackets 22 for the purpose. I

The main section is readily attachable .to and detachable from the back section, and T have illustrated an advantageous mechanism for accomplishing the purpose. Slots or sockets 24 are formed in the side walls of the back section .near the bottom. These slant downward and backward and are adapted to receive pins or cap screws 25 screwing into the side walls, as illustrated in perspective in Figures 1 and a. These slots and cap screws form a detachable pivotal connection between the main section and the back section. The parts are held together near the top by bolts orcap screws (not shown) which pass through apertures 26 in the side wallsof the back section and into threaded apertures 27 formed in the side walls of the main section." It will be observed also that the slots 24 are open endattachabl e to and detachable.

ed and slant downward and backward, with the result that gravity tends to keep the main section of the cabinet connected to the stationary wall section when tilted away from the wall section during the act of mstallation.

Operation: In practice the electrician first installs the back section shown in Figure 2 by bolting orotherwise fastening the brackets 22 to the walls or other supporting structure. He then pulls the conductors 18 down of the unit and solders or otherwise electrically connects thelower end through the top of the conductors to the stationary lugs 17. He then lifts the main section 1 with its contents and lowers the cap screws 25 into the slots 24, thus suppgrting the 'mainsection at the lower end, as illustrated in Figure 4. He next swings'the upper end of the casing backward toward the; back section and as the weight is carried by the cap screws, it is an easy matter for him to hold the unit in place with one hand, or with -h1s body, while he inserts the bolts or cap screws into the apertures 26 and. 27. WVhen these are made fast he raisesthe. cover 2, throwing it back against the wall where it wlll stay of 1ts own weight. This affords free access to the terminals, whereupon the electric connection is established'by passing the apertured lugs 8 over the studs 14 and then applying the nuts 16. R

It will beevident that in viiew of the slanting arrangement of the slots' 24 the main section will be rigidly-and securely heldto the'baek section as soon as the bolts have been inserted in apertures 26, 27. In fact, there is an interlocking effect which renders the position of the main sectipnse=' 1 0 l.

cure by means of a very simple manipulation. It will also beevident that the general construction renders the main sections interchangeable, while the back section becomes universal in the sense that fresh main units, either of the same or diflerent capacities, may be readily substituted at any time that repairs become necessary or a unit of smaller or larger capacity is desired. It also makes it possible by substituting a fresh unit, to obtain plenty of time for making repairs on the old one. Furthermore, the back section not only forms a sup ort for the main section, but cooperates wit it to form a complete box for enclosing the operating parts and also serves as a permanent panel board for carrying the terminals of the external conductors. Another advantageous feature is that the back section is long, broad and shallow, thus making it" easy for the wireman to draw the conductors through the conduit, and making it easy for him to attach these conductors to the ter-- minals in the back section.

Still another advantage is that the parts mounted within the main section are readily accessible, both from the front and the back, and consequently inspection and repairs may be made without disassembling the unit.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: d

1. A sectional cabinet for electrical apparatus' comprising a stationary rectangular wall section closed at the back and open at the front and havingfiside, top and bottom walls, electric terminals mounted within said wall section, a main section of the same rectangular size and outline and being of greater depth than the wall section to enable it to contain the electric apparatus proper, the main section being open at the ack and having side, top and bottom walls, electric terminals mounted within the main section and adapted to be detachably connected to the terminals in the wall section,

the main section having an opening in the front and a cover for closingsaid opening whereb when the main section is detached from tlie wall section the contents will be exposed from the back, and when thecover is open the contents will be exposed from the front, and means for detachably connecting the main section to the wall section to be supported and completely closed at the back by it.

2. A sectional cabinet for electrical apparatus comprising a stationar rectangular wall section closed at the bac and open at the front, and having side, top and bottom walls, eleptric terminals mounted within said sections whereby the main section may be temporarily held at an angle to the wall section for enabling the operator to establish the electric connection between the terminals and at the same time support the weight of the main section and contents upon the wall section.

3. A sectional cabinet for electrical appa-" ratus comprising a stationary rectangular wall section closed at the back and open at the front and having side, .top and bottom walls, electric terminals mounted within said wall section, a main sectionof the same rectangular size and outline and being of greater depth than the wall section to enable it to contain the electric apparatus proper, the main section being open at the back and having side, top and bottom walls, electric terminals mounted within the main section near the upper portion thereof and adapted to be detachably connected electrically to the terminals in the wall section, a detachable pin and open ended slot connection between the lower portion of the wall section and the lower portion of the main section whereby the weight of the main section and its contents may be carried chiefly by the wall section while the main section is tilted away frcm the wall section to enable the operator to complete the connection between terminals in the main section and the terminals in the wall section, and additional means for holding the upper portion of the main section in upright engagement with the Wall section after the electric connection has been made.

4. A sectional cabinet for electrical apparatus comprising a rectangular stationary wall section open at the front, electric ter minals' mounted therein, a main section of the same size and rectangular outline for containing the electric apparatus proper the main section being open at the back andthe t rminals in the wall section, the mainsection having an opening in the front and a cover for closing said opening, and a slot and pin pivotal connection between the 'wall section and main section near the bottom thereof, the slots being open ended and slanting downward and backward, whereby the main section is readily detachable and tends to be held in connection by, gravity.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. I

HERMON L. VAN VALKENBURG. 

